Give Presence for the Holidays

Valerie Shaindlin

Posted on December 21 2015

While of course we think that presents are lovely and part of what makes the holiday season fun, we also believe that the best gift you can give to your loved ones is presence. Here are three ways we will be turning off and tuning in to our relationships this week.

Turn off the technology: Technology is an amazing modern convenience, but oftentimes it safely gets in the way of meaningful interaction. Turn off your cellphone, or at least stop checking your social media apps. We will be off of our Lily Lotus Instagram & Facebook accounts on Christmas Day, so that we can stay present with our families. This doesn't only apply to social media: rather than sitting in silence watching TV as a group, why not pull out a fun board game and make some memories?

Listen: the key here is to just listen to listen, without thinking about what your response will be. Make eye contact. Let go of your own story and try to hear where the other person is coming from.

Breathe: just by bringing your awareness to your breath can have huge benefits, particularly during the holidays. It will make you more mindful (allowing you to resist overeating or drinking, which can be a challenge for many during this time) but more importantly, it will ground you in the present moment. It will allow you to fully experience and appreciate your surroundings, and the special people you are spending time with. We could all use a little more of that!